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Mark Ellingson

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Why Earthly Powers Need No Longer Enslave -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 -- Mark Ellingson -- All Saints Day - C -- 2000
This is a story written for people who had been or were about to be persecuted, if not enslaved.
When Life Gets Hard, Christian, Rebel! -- Lamentations 1:1-6 -- Mark Ellingson -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C -- 2000
Jerusalem, the great capital, was in ruins. The Babylonians were in control.
In, But Not Of The World: A Spiritually Enriching, Liberating Experience -- Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 -- Mark Ellingson -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - C -- 2000
"What's important to me in my walk of faith is my relationship with God. Next comes my family.
Your Sins Are Remembered No More; You're Free! -- Jeremiah 31:27-34 -- Mark Ellingson -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - C -- 2000
Have you ever felt weighed down by your sins and shortcomings?
A Fresh Start! -- Joel 2:23-32 -- Mark Ellingson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - C -- 2000
Have you ever felt that you were absolutely at the end of your rope, left without hope?
Life's Not Always Fair: But God Will Straighten It Out! -- Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 -- Mark Ellingson -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - C -- 2000
Those of us who are old enough and socially concerned enough recall the 1960s with fondness.
Living Free -- Haggai 1:15b--2:9 -- Mark Ellingson -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - C -- 2000
Why are things not better in America?
A Vision Of Freedom -- Isaiah 65:17-25 -- Mark Ellingson -- Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - C -- 2000
Freedom is such a lovely word, a compelling image. What is freedom? How would you define it?
God's Gifts Are Free: Enjoy! -- Deuteronomy 26:1-11 -- Mark Ellingson -- Thanksgiving Day - C -- 2000
Thanksgiving: How do we say thanks authentically and not lapse into the platitudes so often associat
Even Our Business Belongs To God! -- Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 -- Mark Ellingson -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - C -- 2000
The weekend is shot (almost).
Salvation Includes Social Justice -- Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Mark Ellingson -- Christ The King (Proper 29) - C, Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2000
On this last Sunday of the Church Year (we call it Christ the King Sunday) our attention is directed
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Lent 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Lent 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Lent 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
27 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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John Jamison
Object: A rock about the size of a tennis ball, baseball, or even a softball.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
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Mary Austin
For March 30, 2025:

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Paul reread the parable again and sighed. Why had he agreed to lead the Bible study this week? When Pastor Luke asked him, he had been all excited and enthusiastic. He knew the parable of the prodigal son inside and out having read commentaries and stories about it before. He had actually preached a sermon on the passage when Pastor Luke was away and received great feedback from the congregation.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Joshua 5:9-12
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Mark Ellingsen
Joshua 9:5-12

SermonStudio

Bonnie Bates
It is a well-known cliché that “God never gives us more than we can handle”, but I have sometimes found that not to be so. When my youngest brother died of brain cancer at age five, it was more than I could handle. When my first husband was emotionally and physically abusive, it was more than I could handle. When my second husband and I lost our twin sons at birth, it was more than I could handle. The COVID pandemic was more than we could handle. Wars and violence are often more than we can handle. Homelessness, poverty, grief, and loss are often more than we can handle.
John N. Brittain
I suppose we are all a little bit nervous about the prospect of a sermon on a Bible story as familiar and sometimes as overworked as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. "What can I possibly say that hasn't been said before?" And I know what's going through your minds: "Are we going to be subjected to the same old sermon yet another time?" Confronting a familiar Bible passage like this mid-Lent really serves to address the discipline of reading Scripture as part of our devotional life, particularly passages that are very familiar.
Charles D. Reeb
A. A. Milne, the creator of Winnie the Pooh, wrote a simple, yet telling poem in his work, Now We Are Six:

When I was One, I had just begun.
When I was Two, I was nearly new.
When I was Three, I was hardly Me.
When I was Four, I was not much more.
When I was Five, I was just alive.
But now I am Six, I'm as clever as ever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.1

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to worship:

While the Prodigal Son was still far off, his father saw him, ran to him, put his arms around him and kissed him. In our worship today, let us turn to God so that he may run to us, put his arms around and kiss us.

Invitation to confession:

Jesus, for the times when we run away from you,

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, for the times when we have wasted our inheritance on dissolute living,

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, when we return to you,

Lord, have mercy.

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